Is this Samsung's answer to Apple's iPad mini?

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Samsung will announce a new Android tablet, the Galaxy Note 8, at a mobile trade show next month, a company executive revealed to reporters earlier this week. But the unveiling has come a little early, if these photos from an Italian technology site are to be believed.

Digital Day Revolution published these pics of what definitely looks like a mid-size Samsung tablet, smaller than the Galaxy Note 10.1 but slightly larger than the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. As the name implies, the Galaxy Note 8 will be a tablet with an 8-inch screen, very close in size to the iPad mini.

From the photos (more are below), the overall design of the new tablet is very close to the Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone, with similar curved sides and a front-facing camera (with dual sensors) positioned on the bezel along one of the shorter sides (since users tend to hold smaller-screen tablets vertically). It also sports a physical home button, which is found on the GSIII but not on the Note 10.1.

The Note line's trademark stylus appears to be housed in the tablet's lower-right corner. There's a rear camera, too, but doesn't appear to have a flash.

The original article cites some specs for the tablet, although the sources are unknown. Take these, like any rumour, with a grain of salt: